Hydrogenation of olefin hydrocarbons using rhodium or iridium halide complexes with metal halides

ABSTRACT

Olefin hydrocarbons are hydrogenated by contacting the feed olefin hydrocarbon with a catalyst which is an admixture of a rhodium or an iridium halide complex and an aluminum or boron halide.

United States Patent Hughes 51 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] HYDROGENATION OF OLEFIN HYDROCARBONS USING RHODIUM OR IRIDIUM HALIDE COMPLEXES .WITH METAL HALIDES 72 Inventor: William B. Hughes, Bartlesvil1e,

Okla.

[73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 113,614

[52] Cl. ..260/683.9, 252/429 R, 252/429 B, 252/431 P, 260/666 A, 260/677 H [51] Int. Cl. ..C07c 5/02, C07c 11/00 "[58] Field ofSeurch ..260/683.9, 666 A,431 P,

429 B, 677 u; 252/431 P, 42913, 429 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,210,296 10/1965 Gray ..260/683.9

Kroll ..260/677 H Hughes et al. ..260/666 A I Primary Examiner-Tobias E. Levow Assistant Examiner-A. P. Demers Attorney-Young & Quigg 57 ABSTRACT Olefin hydrocarbons are hydrogenated by contacting the feed olefin hydrocarbon with a catalyst which is an admixture of a rhodium or an iridium halide complex and an aluminum or boron halide.

10 Claims, No Drawings HYDROGENATION OF OLEFIN HYDROCARBONS USING RHODIUM OR IRIDIUM HALIDE COMPLEXES WITH METAL I-IALIDES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to the hydrogenation of olefin hydrocarbons.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is ofvalue to the chemical industry to hydrogenate olefin hydrocarbons to paraffin hydrocarbons for a variety of reasons. Heretofore, various catalyst systems have been developed which effect the hydrogenation of olefins to the corresponding saturated compound or selectively hydrogenate polyenes to olefin material having a reduced number of double bonds in the hydrocarbon molecule.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to hydrogenate olefin hydrocarbons to other hydrocarbons having a reduced number of double bonds. It is a more specific object of the invention to hydrogenate olefin hydrocarbons to saturated hydrocarbons. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following summary of the invention, detailed description of the invention, examples and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have discovered that olefin hydrocarbons can be hydrogenated to hydrocarbons having a reduced number of double bonds in the hydrocarbon molecule by contacting the olefin hydrocarbons with a catalyst comprising a rhodium or iridium halide complex in admixture with an aluminum or boron halide compound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The rhodium halide complex of the catalyst of the invention can be represented by the formula (R Q),,(C ),,MX wherein M is Rh or Ir, X is a halogen, Q is phosphorus or arsenic, R is a saturated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical, each radical having from about one to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule, and including aralkyl and alkaryl radicals, b is 0 or 1, and a is 2 when b is 1 and a is 3 when b is 0. Bridged rhodium or iridum halide complexes having the formula can also be used. In the above formula R, O, M and X are the same as mentioned above. Mixtures can also be employed.

The aluminum or boron halide compounds of the catalyst can be represented by the formula R' MX; wherein M is aluminum or boron, X is a halogen, R is an alkyl or cycloalkyl hydrocarbon radical having from one to about 20 carbon atoms, e is 0 when M is boron, or 0, l or 2 when M is aluminum, andfis 1,2 or 3, the sum of e and f being 3. Included within the scope of the above formula are compounds having the formula M'X RgAlx, and R,A1x, wherein M, X and R are as defined above and mixtures of any of the above.

Although bromides, fluorides, chlorides and iodides can be used, the chloride compounds are generally preferred because of their availability and generally lower cost. These compounds and their method of preparation arewell known in the art and many are commercially available.

Some non-limiting examples of the R' MX, compounds include aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, aluminum iodide, aluminum fluoride, boron trichloride, boron triiodide, ethylaluminum dichloride methylaluminum dibromide, eicosylaluminum dichloride, cyclohexylaluminum difiuoride, diethylaluminum chloride,-methylaluminum sesquichloride, and the like. Those compounds having the formula MX are generally preferred because of lower cost; In addition, silver tetrafluoroborate or silver tetraphenylborate can be used instead of the R MX; compounds.

Some non-limiting examples of the above-described rhodium or halide complexes which can be used include, bis(triphenylphosphine)-carbonylchlororhodibis(triphenylarsine)carbonylchlororhodium, bis(tributylphosphine)carbonylchlororhodium, bis[tri(p-xylyl)phosphine]carbonylfluororhodium, bis(tribenzylarsine)carbonylbromorhodium, bis(trirnethylarsine)-carbonylchlororhodium, tris(trimethylphosphine)bromorhodium,

bis(tribenzylarsine)-carbonylchlororhodium, bis(trieicosylphosphine)carbonylchlororhodium, bis-(methyldiphenylphosphine)carbonylchlororhodium, bis(dimethylphenylarsine)-carbonylchlororhodium, bis(tributylphosphine)(triphenylphosphine)iodorhodium, di-pt-chloro-tetrakis(tributylarsine)dirhodium, diu-iodo-tetrakis(triphenyl-phosphine)dirhodium, di-ubromo-tetrakis( methyldiphenylphosphine )dirhodium, and the like, or mixtures thereof. In the above examples, the rhodium metal can be replaced with iridium metal to provide non-limiting examples of iridium complexes. Of course, mixtures of the above rhodium and iridium halide complexes can be used. The rhodium or iridium halide complexes can be prepared by any suitable method known in the art, andin some instances, these materials are commercially available.

The components of the catalyst are generally combined in a ratio in the range of about 1:1 to about 0.01:1 of the rhodium or iridium halide complex to the aluminum or boron halide.

The catalyst is prepared simply by combining the components for a sufficient time to and under conditions which permit the catalytically active composition to be formed. In general, the catalyst components are combined at a temperature of from 0-75 C, preferably room temperature for the sake of convenience, for a period of time of from a few seconds to several hours. Generally; the active catalyst is present after a period in the range of about 0.1 to 3 hours of intimate contact of the components. The components are readily combined in a diluent in which both components are at least partially soluble. Suitable. diluents include aromatic hydrocarbons, and aromatic or saturated aliphatic halides which are inert with respect to the formed catalyst; such as chlorobenzene, methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, cumene, fluorobenzene, perchloroethane, chloroform, and the like. After catalyst formation in the suitable diluent, the catalyst need not be isolated but can be added directly into the The hydrogenation reaction can take place in any.

suitable reaction zone at a temperature in the range of from about C to about 150 C, but temperatures in the range of from about 20 to 90 C are preferred for convenience. The. amount of hydrogen employed is in the range of from about 0.1 to about l00'moles of H per mole of double bond equivalent olefin feed. The reaction pressure can range from about. 0 to about 1,000 psig. Preferably, the pressure is in the range of about 200 to about 500 psig. The reaction period can be varied over a broad range from a few minutes to several hours, preferably fromabout l to about 24 hours; however, periods of from about 3 to about 8 hours are generallysufficientfor maximum conversions. The proportion of catalyst composition to feed olefin in the reaction zone will vary widely depending upon the rate of reaction desired, but generally will be in the range of from about 0.001 to about 0.1 mole of rhodium or-iridium complex per mole of olefin feed.

The'hydrogenation reaction is simply carried out by admitting the hydrogen, if not present during the catalystpreparation, and the olefin hydrocarbon to the reaction zone under the above-mentioned conditions. Subsequent to completion of the reactions, the product paraffins and olefin's, as well as the catalyst and solvent can be separated by suitable techniques such as fractionation, extraction, and the like. Unconverted feed materials can be recycled. Any suitable contacting technique can be employed for the olefin hydrogenation process and batchwise or continuous operation can be utilized.

The olefins which are capable of being hydrogenated according to the process. of the invention include any hydrocarbon compound having terminal or internal ethylene unsaturation and/or. acetylene unsaturation which is capable of adding hydrogen to the carbon atoms of the multiple bond(s). Of particular usefulness because of their commercial importance are acyclic or cyclic compounds each containing atleast one carbon- 4 carbon multiple bond and having from three to 30 carbon atoms per molecule, including cycloalkyl or aryl derivatives thereof. Some suitable examples of these olefins include Z-butene, l-butene, l-pentene, l-hex .ene, 2-octene, 3-heptene, v l,6-heptadie ne, 1,8- decadiene, butadiene, piperylene, allylbenzene, betamet hyl styrene, 1,5-cy'clooctadiene, 1,5,9- cyclododecatriene, cyclooctene, cyclododecene, 2-butyne, 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexyne,' 1,3-hexadiene-5-yne, cyclooctyn'e, and the like, or'a mixture of such olefins. The invention process can also be performed on mixed olefin feed stocks such as thosewhich are commonly found in refinery and other petrochemical processes.

The above described invention is illustrated by the following examples. The data provided in the examples is for the purpose of illustration and should not be construed to unduly limit the scope of the invention as previously defined. 1

EXAMPLE 1 In each run, the rhodium halide complex and the metal halide, if any, were added to 20 ml. of diluent and stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for a period I of 0.5 hours. In certain runs, as indicated belowi the olefinwas introduced along with the catalyst components. in certain other runs the olefin was not introduced to the reaction mixture until after the catalyst formation period.

After addition of the olefin,.if not initially present, hydrogen was admitted to the reactor untilthe pressure was 100 psig. The reactor and contents were'then brought to the reaction temperature and hydrogen was added until the'pressure was 300 psig. The 300 psig pressure was maintained by addition of hydrogen as needed throughout the reaction period. of 4 hours. The reactor effluent was then analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for reaction products having the same number of carbon atoms as the feed olefin. Although the products were not analyzed to determine whether heavier compounds were formed, the production of sig- Y'IABLEI Catalysts: (A) (Ph0As)2(CO)RhCl; (B) Cocatalyst Molar Molar Run Cocat- G.(A)/ ratio Olefin, Olefin, ratio Temp, Conv., Product analysis, wt. No. alyst G.(B) A/B Olefin g. mole (A)/o1efin Diluent Percent percent 1 A1013-.. 0.12/0.08 0.256 1-hexene. 3.37 0.0401 0.00384 Chlorobenzene 100 n-Hexane 100.0 2 A1013-" 012 002 0.266 do -3.50 0.0417 0.00370 .do 50 100 .....do 100.0 -s A1012- 012 008: 0.250 do 3.47 0. 0413 0. 0037s .d0 50 98.7 {gggfggg 4 A101,--. 0.18/08 0.385 do -a.50 0.0417 0.00540 Benzene 50 92.6 {g$ 3g 5 A1015-.. 035 033 1 0.181 .--.do -s.45 0.0411 0.0107 -do 88.0 figgfg ga -g" fig 5 None 012 000 do -s.40 0.0412 0.00375 Chlorobenzene--. 50 5.0 figgf figa g g-g 7 FeOlg--. 019 .02 0.493 -do 3.57 0.0425 0.00560 Benzene 50 {Eg:z ga;fig"' 530; I CD'I 77.2 s A1010..- 012/008 0. 250 CDT 3.40 0.0210 0.00733 Chlorobenzene.. 2-? 0.0

I 01) 90.0 0 "A1013--. 012 003 0.256 CDTI Y 4.03 0.0249 0.00610 Benzene 3'8 0.0

h 1,5,9-cyclododecatriene Cyclododecadiene d Cyclododecene s Cyclododecane Negligible. I

I The olefin was introduced after the catalyst formation period.

nificant amounts of heavy hydrocarbons was not apparent.

' EXAMPLE 11 Two additional runs were carried out wherein l-hexene was hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising (Ph As) (CO)RhCl and silver fluoroborate.

In both runs, the rhodium halide complex and the silver fluoroborate were added to ml. of chlorobenzene (diluent) and stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for a period of 0.5 hours. During this period a gray precipitate was observed which presumably was silver chloride. ln Run 10, the precipitate was observed to be darker in color and more volumous than in Run 11. This was apparently caused by the use of larger amounts of AgBF, in Run 10.

' After addition of the l-hexene, hydrogen was admitted to the reactor until the pressure was 200 'psig. The reactor and contents were then brought to reaction temperature and maintained there for 4 hours withou further addition of hydrogen. The reactor effluent wa then analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Althoug the products were not analyzed to determine whethe heavy or polymeric products were formed, the produc tion of significant amounts of heavy hydrocarbons wa not apparent. The results of these runs are summarize in Table ll.

TABLE I or acetylenic hydrocarbon in the presence of hydrogen under'hydrogenation conditions with a catalyst comprising an admixture of (a) a rhodium or iridium halide complex represented the formula:

o'wherein M is rhodium or iridium, X is a halogen, Q is phosphorus or arsenic, R is a saturated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from one to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule, including aralkyl and a1- karyl radicals, and b is O or 1, and a is 2 when b is l, and a is 3 when b is 0; and (b) an aluminum or boron compound which is 1 represented by the formula R' MX; wherein M is aluminum or boron and X is a halogen and R is an alkyl or cycloalkyl radical having from one to about 20 carbon atoms, e is 0 when M is boron, or 0,

l, or 2 when M is aluminum, andfis l, 2, or 3, the sum of e and f being 3, or (2) silver tetrafluorborate or silver tetraphenylborate.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation reaction is accomplished in the presence of an inert diluent in which both (a) and (b) are at least partially I soluble.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin hydrocarbon is an acyclic and cyclic mono-.or polyene having from about three to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule.

4.,The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of (a).to (b) is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 0.01:]. a

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 0 to about 150 C' the pressure is in the ran e of from about 0 to about 1,000 pslg and the reaction me is in the range of from about 1 to about 24 hours.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium or iridium halide complex is 1).

7. The process of claim 6 wherein Q is arsenic, M is Rh,ais2andbis l.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is Catalysts: (A) (PhaAS)2(CO)RhCl; (B) AgBFt Olefin Molar Molar ratio Conver- Run ratio Temp, sion, wt. Product analysis, N0. (B) A/B Compound G. Mole A/olefin Dlluent 0. percent wt. percent 10 0.12/0.12 0.250 1-hexene 3. 46 0. 041 0.00375 Chlorobenzene 60-64 100 n-Hexane.-. 100.0 1l. 0.26/00? 0.930 .d0 3.46 0.041 0.00812 do 27-58 100 do 100.0

Y chlorobenzene or benzene.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the olefin hydrocarbon is l-hexene or 1,5,9-cyclododecatrine.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the catalyst is an admixture of bis(triphenylarsine)carbonylchlororhodium and aluminum chloride or silver fluoroborate. 

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation reaction is accomplished in the presence of an inert diluent in which both (a) and (b) are at least partially soluble.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin hydrocarbon is an acyclic and cyclic mono- or polyene having from about three to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of (a) to (b) is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 0.01:1.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 0* to about 150* C, the pressure is in the range of frOm about 0 to about 1, 000 psig and the reaction time is in the range of from about 1 to about 24 hours.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium or iridium halide complex is (1).
 7. The process of claim 6 wherein Q is arsenic, M is Rh, a is 2 and b is
 1. 8. The process of claim 2 wherein the solvent is chlorobenzene or benzene.
 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the olefin hydrocarbon is 1-hexene or 1,5,9-cyclododecatriene.
 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the catalyst is an admixture of bis(triphenylarsine)carbonylchlororhodium and aluminum chloride or silver fluoroborate. 